Self-Reflection, by Chris

I was thinking about my email signature... here it is:

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

I haven't thought much about those things lately. These words are just an automatic tag that goes on the end of my emails. Hmm. How am I doing?

1. Live simply. I could cut out some of the material things in our lives, I suppose. This one is really about Jason and I and the choices we make together. We're not doing too bad in this area. Our schedules are not overly hectic and busy and stressful. I suspect me being a stay-at-home mom has something to do with that. It keeps things simpler. We eat at home almost every night. Together. We're not overscheduled. We don't have much debt. We're in a smaller house now. We choose to not add extra things into the mix when life is stressful.

2. Love generously. Yikes. I could do a whole lot better in this area. "Love" is a verb in this case, and do I truly show love to my friends and family every chance I get? Generously? Self-reflection on that question hurts. Yup, I could do a whole lot better. Dr. Gary Chapman talks about the Five Love Languages: words of affirmation, quality time, gifts, acts of service, and physical touch. People feel most loved when they receive love in their primary love language. If you give love in your primary love language and that doesn't match the language of the receiver of your love, then they may not feel most loved. (That's the Chris version in a nutshell anyway...)

I am a hugger. I love hugs. I love giving and receiving hugs. I hug everyone ~ our family, our friends, the people at my volunteer gig, my doctor, my hubby's bosses and co-workers, our mailman Bill. (Just kidding about Bill. He already thinks I have a crush on him.) Probably everyone is like, "Chris, puh-leeeeze you don't need to hug me EVERY time you see me!" To that I put my fingers in my ears and say, "lalalala I can't hear you I can't hear you!" This is probably one of my love languages.

I could do better in all the other areas. I could compliment when girlfriends get their hair done (I am not a great girl-friend. I don't notice new haircuts or makeup or clothes very often.) I could be more open with sharing when I think someone is really great at something. I could spend more time with friends. Sometimes I guard my "me" time and our "family" time too closely... I could certainly make more time to love my family and friends. I could also make more time to do things for others. I think my most uncomfortable area is gift giving. I have been trying but I have to say I am not good at giving gifts. Sorry, guys, I'll do better at loving you generously!

3. Care deeply. I do. I do. I do. This one is internal so y'all don't see it. I do. My heart breaks when yours is breaking. My heart rejoices when yours is rejoicing. I cry with you, I laugh with you, I pray for you. I love you.

4. Speak kindly. Uh oh. Does the occasional f-bomb count for speaking kindly? (insert blushing red face here) When I disagree with someone do I always speak about them in a kind way... or do I shift into judgment-criticize-name-calling mode? Whoa. Not cool, Chris. What is that verse that talks about our words reflect what is in our heart...

5. Leave the rest to God. Now, this I have been consciously working on for a while. I'm getting there. I know when I feel like I am carrying around a big black cloud, I need to turn it over to Him. I know when my brain keeps obsessing about something, I need to turn it over to Him. I know when something is giving me a gutache or keeping me up at night, I need to turn it over to Him. I will gladly let the Lord carry those burdens for me. I suspect this is a goal to be worked toward all my life.


I guess that's the thing. I am not perfect nor will I ever be. I know that the Lord loves me more than I deserve. Only God is perfect ~ perfect in His love, His grace, His patience, His timing, His forgiveness. I am grateful that He loves me just as I am. I believe in self-reflection and making changes in me. I want to be more like Jesus. I want to be a generous, loving, caring friend to everyone in my life. Please forgive me where I fall short. I am trying.


1 Peter 5:10  And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Just In Case You Wanted a Looksie ~~

Because I love looking at their pictures, I thought I would share so you could look at them too!

David is going to be a ball player!

Samuel says, "Mama, I have the car keys. Let's go home now."



2 Corinthians 4:17  For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long.
Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

Our Dossier Was Delivered!

It didn't crash in the FedEx truck and get towed to the junkyard.

It didn't get dropped in a mud puddle by the delivery guy.

... or the CCAI rep in China.

It didn't blow away in the wind.

It didn't get coffee spilled on it.

...or if it did, we didn't hear about it and it's good enough.

It didn't get swept away in a tsunami wave.

It didn't crash in the airplane and burn up.

Our dossier was just safely and uneventfully delivered halfway around the world to the CCAA (Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs) office.

Why do I ever bother worrying? What a waste of time. High five to God again!


1 Peter 5:7  Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Life Goes On...

and in the meantime...

in between waiting for this paper...

or that government agency...

or the mailman...

or the FedEx guy...


We have our regular life at our house. Here is our son getting an award a few weeks ago:

                                            Josh is this one          ^^^

I think the kid next to him put his teacher in a trance to get his award... just look at those glowing eyes... Josh actually got two awards ~ the character award and attendance award. We are so proud!!!

We also have some fun occasionally. Like when we do this:

It sometimes takes a while for the bowling ball to make it down to the pins... I went to get nachos and a drink and came back and the ball was stiiiiiillllllll rolling! Good thing God provides you with all the patience you need when you are a parent...

And then we occasionally have one of these:

Oops, couldn't upload my birthday photo ~ oh well let's just pretend it didn't happen, mmm-kay?

Later this month ~ our #1 son turns 6 years old! And we are going to LEGOLAND to celebrate!!! Yippee!!!


John 8:12  Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, 'I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.'

We're Doing the DTC HAPPY DANCE!!!

We can say we are officially DTC ~ Dossier To China ~ as of today!!! Yippeee!!!

(insert jump and click heels together here)

I am feeling quite selfish for wanting our dossier to fly right over the tsunami and into China. Forgive me, Lord, I just want to bring these munchkins home...

So now we pray for all the people in Japan and all others being affected by this horrible earthquake-tsunami. The devastation on the news clips is breaking my heart. I am praying for some good to come out of this mess.


Romans 8:28  And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

More Updates... Already?!?

Yup. You betcha. We received updates on both boys this week ~ high five to God! Thanks for the birthday presents :-D

Samuel has gained several pounds since last October. It looks like he will be able to ride forward-facing in the car by the time we bring him home. His foster family received our package. Samuel plays with toys, his health is good and he is active. Notice that in his picture he has a set of car keys in one hand and crackers in the other hand. Here he is:

We received more pictures and a couple videos of David from our Datong angels. Our angels were a lifeline to David made only by God! The gifts they have given us... well, we just feel humbled and blessed and will be foreverandeverandeverandever grateful to them. Here is David:

Pretty cool, huh?


Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart,
   for everything you do flows from it.

We're in Translation!

All the pieces of our dossier are now officially at CCAI :-D

It will be translated this week :-D

Rumors are that CCAI sends dossiers to China on Fridays :-D

We expect our dossier to fly over the ocean this weekend :-D

Yay, God!  :-D


Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen;
       it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

And the next 2 acronyms we are searching for...

are...

DTC and LID!!!

On Monday morning our oh, so elusive, recently PRC Great Sealed I-797 will arrive at our adoption agency. WOOO HOOOOOO!!! (God, please bless FedEx) And thank you, Lisa! It is important to mention here that our loving Chicago friend Lisa (my sister's college roommate) unexpectedly spent hours and hours and HOURS waiting in lines at the Chinese Consulate in Chicago last Thursday and Friday. We feel terrible and extremely grateful at the same time. Lisa ~ we owe you BIG TIME! And yes, Auntie Lisa, we will send you lots and lots of pictures ;-D  We love you!!!

CCAI will receive the last of our dossier paperwork on Monday. Finally. And if I was a gambling person, I would place my bets on our dossier being sent to China by Friday.

That's the DTC part... Dossier To China ~~~ doesn't that sound magical!

And then we'll be waiting for the LID part... Log In Date ~~~ the beautiful day that the CCAA (Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs) says, ya, we got your stuff.

More acronyms to follow...


Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
      for my hope is in him.
 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
      my fortress where I will not be shaken.
Psalm 62:5-6